Quick-acting switch mechanism



A. PENN QUICK ACTING SWITCH MEICI*IAI\I'.[S1VI Filed Oct. '7 1922 2 she etsrsheet l F .Z. 67 Z31 INVENTOR awe/ Pew/z ATTORNEY April 29, 1924. A: PENN QUICK ACTING swn'ca MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

FiledOct. '7, 1922 INVENTOR wer BY WYZ/fi ATTORNEY- Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,492,312 PATENT OFFICE.

.ALBEBT PENN, OF DES MOINgIS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OI ONE-HALF TO RALPH PENN, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

QUICK-ACTIN G SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed October 7, 1922. Serial No. 598,087.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT PENN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk, State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Quick-Acting Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a quick acting switch mechanism, which is of simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction.

More particularly, my invention relates to a mechanism wherein a small arm, mounted on the lever, is capable" of movement independently of, and relative to, the lever upon which it is mounted.

Still a further object is to provide a small sprin which is in engagement with a small arm or causing the small arm to be moved.

Still a further object is to provide a structure wherein the movement of the parts for making and breaking a circuit will be instantaneous, for preventing arcing of the contact points of the switch.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of m device, whereby the objects contemplate are, attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my im- -proved switch with the cover plate of the casing removed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 through the small arm and lever structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the arm and lever, just before the parts are about to be moved to another position, the small arm being shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3 with the parts in another position; and

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3.

In the accompanying drawings. I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a casing which may be fixed to a diaphragm chamber 11.; A diaphragm member 12 is mounted in the chamber and movement of the diaphragm member will impart movement to a pin 13. The pin 13 projects through an opening in the diaphragm chamber 11 and extends into the casing 10.

A supply pipe 14 is connected to the diaphragm chamber 11 for causing the movement of the diaphra 111 member 12. A lever 15, mounted on t e pin 16, is arranged to have one part thereof in engagement with the pin 13. Extending through the casing 10 is anadustmg screw 17 having nuts 18 and 19 arranged on both sides of the casing 10. A s ring 20 is secured to the adjustin screw 1 at one end, and has its other en in engagement with the lever 15 in a notch 21. A pin 22 formed in the casing 10 limits the amount of movement of the lever 15 in one direction.

From the construction of the parts just described, it will be seen that the movement of the pin 13 will cause the lever 15 to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrows 23, against the action of the spring 20.

The lever 15 is provided with a large slot 23, through which is extended one end of .e an actuated or pivoted member 24. The actuated member 24 is pivoted to a small switch lever 25, at 26. The switch lever 25 is pivotally mounted on a bolt or the like 27, extending through a hub 28 on the easing 10.

Within the casing 10 is mounted a block 29 of insulating material. A pair of contact points 30 are mounted on the block 29, and have wires 31 leading therefr0m.- A block of insulating material 32 is mounted on the free end of the switch lever 25 for moving with the switch lever 25.

On the block 32 are mounted a number of resilient plates 33 of conducting material, which are adapted to strike against the contact points 30 for making a circuit, and when moving away from the contact points 30, to break a circuit.

On the lever 15 is mounted an arm 34. The arm 34 is preferably formed of a yoke construction so as to extend around the lever 15, and is pivoted by means of the pin 35. The lever 15 is provided with a slot or aperture 36.

A pin 37 extends through the slot 36 and through the slot 23. The pin 37 is secured to each of the sides of the yoke member or arm 34. The pin 37 is capableof sliding movement within the slot 36.

Within the slot 23 and on the pin 37 is mounted a roller 38, which moves within the slot 23 and with the pin 37.

The actuated member 24 is provided with a pair of oppositely inclined faces 39 and 40. The inclined faces 39 and 40 are adapted to bear against the roller 38, and for yieldingly holding either of the inclined faces 39 or 40 in engagement with the roller 38, I use a spring 41. The spring 41 has one end fixed to a pin 42, formed on the casing 10, and has its other end anchored in an opening 43 formed in the actuate; member 24.

Mounted between the yoke structure or arm 34 and the lever 15, is a small coil spring 44. The coil spring 44 tends to normally move the arm 34 to its down position.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have shown in detail the action which takes place when the lever 15 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 23. In this connection it may be mentioned that it is very important to cause the contact points 30 and 33 to become instantly disengaged in order to prevent arcing. The diaphragm 12, moving the pin 13 causes it to engage the lever 15 for moving it in the direction indicated by the arrow 23.

So long as the roller 38 engages the inclined surface 39, it will remain in its raised position, that is, the spring will be under compression. The large spring 41 pulls the actuating member 24 against the roller 38 and, in view of the fact that the spring 41 is much stronger than the coil spring 44, it will prevent the small spring from moving the roller 38 to its downward position.

As the lever 15 continues to swing downward on its pivot, it causes the roller 38 to ride against the inclined surface 39. So long as the line of pressure of the actuating member against the roller 38 is in a line perpendicular to the inclined surface 39, and passing through the center of the roller, it will remain in its upper limit of movement. As soon as the line of pressure against the roller is no longer perpendicular to the inclined surface 39, the spring 44 will cause the entire arm 34 to be moved independently of the movement of the lever 15 to its down position, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The parts shown in Figure 3 are shown in the position that they assume when just about to snap over into the other position.

So long as the line of pressure against the roller is perpendicular to the inclined surface 39, and extending through the center point of the roller, the spring 41 will be efiective and hold the roller 38 in its upper position. When the snapping occurs, it causes the roller 38 and arm 34 to be moved downward very fast, thus, permitting the roller to be free from the actuating member for an instant, which permits the spring 41 to pull the actuating member to such a position there it will move the switch lever on its pivot, thus instantly causin the contact (points 30 and lates 33 to disengage The action 0 moving the roller and arm 34 is very fast and it might be said, that as fast as the arm 34 moves downwardly, the actuating member 24 is pulled by the spring 41 for causing the contact points to become disengaged.

The advantage of my construction, resides in the fact that I am able to move the small arm or yoke device independently of, and relative to the lever upon which it is mounted, for preventing the roller and actuating member from coming to a dead center position.

If the parts were permitted to come to a dead center position and the roller 38 would bear on the point on the actuating member formed by the meeting ends of the inclined surfaces, then for an instant the sprin contact plates and contact points woul be engaged, but not very elliciently.

When the contact points are touching each other, but not under any force or pressure, the arcing might occur and would cause damage to motors or other instruments used 1n the electric circuit.

It will, therefore, be seen that it is very important to instantl break the circuit, and this I accomplis by roviding the arm 34 on the lever 15 in sue a way as to make it capable of movement relative to the lever 15 and independently thereof.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my invention, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical e uivalents, which may be reasonably include within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a. pivoted actuated member having oppositely inclined faces at one end, of a lever, means for moving the lever in o posite directions, an arm pivotally mounte on said lever and capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the lever, said arm having a part adapted to bear against the inclined faces on said actuated member, a spring for holding the actuated member and arm in contact and a. second spring interposed between the arm and lever for moving the arm independently of the lever.

2. The combination with a pivoted actuated member provided with oppositely inclined faces at one end, of a. lever, means for moving the lever in o posite directions, a roller mounted on said ever for engagement with the inclined faces and capable of independent movement relative to the lever, a spring connected to said actuated member and to a fixed support for holding the actuated member and roller in contact and a second spring for imparting such independent movement to the roller.

3. The combination with a pivoted actuated member provided with oppositely inclined faces at one end, of a lever, means for roller mounted on said ever for en agement with the inclined faces and infependent .moving the lever in opposite directions, a

movement relative to the lever, a spring connected to said actuated member and to a fixed-support for holding the actuated member and roller in contact and a second spring interposed between said roller and said lever for imparting such independent movement to the roller.

4. The combination with a pivoted actuated member provided with oppositely inclined faces at one end, of a lever, means for movin the lever in opposite directions, a roller oosely mounted on said lever for engagement wlth the inclined faces and capable of independent movement relative to the lever a spring connected to said actuated mem r and to a fixed support for holding the actuated member and roller in contact and a second spring for imparting such independent movement to the roller.

5. The combination with a pivoted actuated member provided with oppositely inclined faces at one end, of a lever, means for movin the lever in opposite directions, a roller oosely mounted on said lever for enga ment with the inclined faces and capa le of independent movement relative to the lever, a spring connected to said actuated member and to a fixed su port for holding the actuated member an roller in contact, a second spring for normally holding the roller at one limit of its movement, said spring servin to pull .the roller over the point formed y the op itcly inclined faces over whichit rides, sai second spring being weaker than the first spring.

Des Moines, Iowa, October 4, 1922.

ALBERT PENN. 

